What your tech did is to install a sediment trap or 'dirt leg' on the gas line. It is not only common, it is a Code requirement to prevent dirt or flakes of metal from the inside of the pipe from clogging the gas inlet to any appliance. This dirt leg is installed so that it can be easily removed for cleaning in the event it does become full. See the link below and scroll to partion that defines a sediment trap as used in architecture. Here is a link that might be useful: Sediment Trap

It is possible the the problem can be traced to the fittings but based upon the description in Orouke's original post I suspect he has one of two problems, and more likely both. 1. Wrong tape- Teflon was first created by Dupont Chemical Corp. and the word "Teflon" is a registered proprietary trade name for PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene). It was originally package on white spools with a white cover ring. Due to copyright restrictions as other companies began producing PTFE tape they were not permitted to use the name Teflon so they simply labeled it PTFE Thread Tape. Dupont then argued that the white container was also a registered trade mark, so the other manufacturers were required to change the packaging slightly, thus we see blue spools with a white ring, red spools with a white ring, and recently I have seen white spools with a blue ring. All of these are single density PTFE tape. (The first clue is if you can buy the roll for $1 or less it is almost a certainty that it is single density tape. The triple density tape generally sells for about $3 or more, depending on the size of the tape and the length of the roll). Note-The PTFE tape commonly found in the hardware store is 1/2" wide whereas most plumbers prefer to use 3/4" or 1" wide tape, which is generally only available a plumbing or HVAC supply store. When double density PTFE tape first came on the scene it was also white, packed on a white spool and primarily only marketed to professional tradesmen through the plumbing or HVAC supply houses. Most plumbers quickly adopted it because it was quicker and easier to apply and made a much more reliable joint. Shortly thereafter many gas codes were amended to require the use of double density tape on gas joints. Once the codes were changed they began making the double density tape yellow so that the inspectors would have a visual indicator that the correct tape had been used, thus to this day the yellow double density tape is often labeled as "Gas Tape". As the PTFE tape industry evolved into more products they adopted a standardized color code. WHITE- Single density tape to be used as a thread sealant on NPT (National Pipe Taper) threads which are equal to or less than 3/8". YELLOW-Double density "Gas tape" suitable for NPT threads equal to or greater than 1/2" but not more than 2" Red- Triple density tape suitable for NPT threads equal to or greater than 1/2" but not more than 2". (NOTE-The package is a red spool with a red cover ring and plainly labeled 'triple density", but the tape itself appears as a pale pink color). GREEN TAPE- Listed as "OXY/MED tape"-certified oil free to be used on lines conveying oxygen and some specified medical gasses. COPPER TAPE- Contains copper granules and is certified as a mechanical thread lubricant but is not certified as a thread sealant. I suspect that even though orouke meant well by selecting a red roll, none the less, he mistakenly got a roll of single density tape on a red roll with a white cover ring. The second problem I suspect is that the joint is not tight enough. When tightening any NPT thread it requires the use of two wrenches. One wrench is used to hold the fixed fitting steady while the second wrench is used to screw the fittings together. When an NPT joint is properly tightened there should not be any more than 1-1/2 threads visible. I realize that many homeowners and novices are afraid that they will over torque the joint, but with more than 30 years experience I have only seen one copper female fitting fail from over tightening but i have seen hundreds leak because the installer was afraid to crank it up.

That's right. No galvanizing at all but the rust is trivial. If that were mine I'd use nothing at all other than some solvent to clean the grease off the pipe, go buy a can of Krylon Industrial spray paint (maybe six or seven dollars) in glossy medium gray, and put a half dozen thick coats on every bit of pipe I could see. No primer, no sanding, covers pipe dope, lasts forever, causes no problems. At my house I even repainted the sun blasted meter and supply pipes, but they were grody.

I don't know what Azzalea's problem is with utility companies and to be perfectly honest, I don't care, and while her DH may have worked for a utility company and claims to have some inside information, I doubt seriously if he worked for the utility company in question, that being Dominion East Ohio Gas Company (DEOGC). On the other hand, On three separate occassions DEOGC performed their services at my mothers house while I was there, so I feel that as a retired plumber myself, I too am qualified to assess the performance, and you may rest assured I too asked all the pertinent questions, like why would the gas company repair water & sewer lines? The reason has nothing to do with the gas company scrambling for money as was eluded by Azzalea. It has to do with Code requirements and union contracts. The gas company primarily installs and maintains the municipal gas lines, however Commercial and Municipal gas lines are not regulated under the plumbing codes, they fall under a separate set of Municipal codes and the rank & file employees that work for the gas company are under the "Pipefitters Union" and they are only permitted to work on the municipal gas lines and the individual service drops from the municipal line to the curb stop shutoff valve. The gas service line from the curb stop to the structure is regulated under the Plumbing code and you must be a certified Plumber to work on that line. The problem is that in the state of Ohio one only has to complete the apprenticeship and pass the state plumbers exam to become a commercial plumbers. Residential plumbers are regulated by the individual jurisdication, and in most jurisdictions the only requirement to become a licensed residential plumber is to pay an annual fee. As if that is not problamatic enough, in many small communities and in rural areas outside the local municipal district they have absolutely no licensing requirements to be a residential plumber. The gas company was then confronted with a problem. When they were called upon to install a new gas service they could only make the tap into the municipal gas line and extend the residential service line to the curb stop. From there they had to hire a plumber to run the line to the structure, but they had no way to insure the plumbers were even qualified to properly run a gas line so they opted to hire their own plumbers, but that instantly caused a union dissagreement between the Pipefitters Union & the Plumbers Union. The final solution was that the gas company hired qualified residential & cmmercial plumbers on a permanent subcontract from a local plumbing company. The plumbers remained as bona fide employees of the respective plumbing companies, but they reported for duty directly to the gas company and worked with gas company vehicles, equipment and materials and under the direct supervision of gas company supervisors. That was working out to the complete satisfaction of both unions and all parties concerned, but it was soon discovered that the gas company did not have enough work installing service drops to justify the expense of having separate crews. They then relized the the plumbers were legally qualified to not only install and maintain the gas lines, they were also qualified to install and maintain water & sewer lines so the gas company started the "line Backer" service to insure their plumbing crews would be afforded a steady 40hr work week, thus insuring they could keep the same ppl doing the job. Now let us compare the gas company service to having the service performed through your homeowners insurance. From my first hand experience, when you call the gas company they will have an estimator on site within the hour. The estimator examines the job and determines the level of service required, then radios that information back to their dispatchers. The dispatchers then apply for all necessary permits, notifiy "Dig Safe" to come out and mark all utility lines before they commence digging, and the appropriate repair crew is dispatched to the location. On two occassions when they came to my mothers house they already had a hard copy of the plumbing permit on the truck when they arrived, on the third occassion the repair crew arrived and began unloading their tools and equipment and within a few minutes a pickup truck arrived with their permit. The crews work out of a large gas company 5 ton crewcab truck with a 20' hard covered utility bed loaded with all the tools, parts and materials to perform the task at hand, and they were pulling a large commercial heavy duty equipment trailer with either a trencher or a backhoe, whichever was required to do the job. In all three instances the job was completed within 8hrs from the time we first called the gas company, and when they did the water line it was on a Sunday. Having spent over 25 years in the plumbing trade I had many opportunities to do similar work through insurance companies. Generally when you call an insurance company they will send an adjuster out within a day or two to examine the problem. The then take their findings back to the office and discuss whether or not it is covered by the policy. If it is a catastrophic failure its covered, but if the problem resulted from old age, it is a maintenance problem and not covered. Of course it will take them a day or so to make that determination. The insurance company will then call you and tell you what their determination was and if they authorize the service they will issue you a P.O. number or control number and tell you to go ahead and contact a plumber. You are then left scrambling through the phone book looking for a plumber that can come out within a short time and make the repairs, course that short time may be another 4 or 5 days. No time now to go through the process of checking references, you need the service immediately. To add insult to injury, how many homeowners have any firsthand knowledge of what the code requirements are? Do you feel yourself qualified to judge the quality of the work performed? If the truth be told, most homeowners would not even know enough to insist on pulling a permit and having the job inspected..Oh yes, and did we mention that even if the job is covered by your insurance, you first have to reach down in your pocket and cover the deductable. So as I said before,,if you happen to live in an area servied by Dominion East Ohio Gas company, in my opinion you would be a fool not to take advantage of it.